mintlify__docs/cli/install.mdx

---
title: "Install the CLI"
description: "Install the Mintlify CLI to preview documentation locally, test changes in real time, and catch build errors before deploying to production."
keywords: ["CLI", "npm", "install", "Node.js", "pnpm", "mint"]
---

## Prerequisites

- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) v20.17.0+ (LTS versions recommended)

## Install the CLI

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash npm
  npm i -g mint
  ```

  ```bash pnpm
  pnpm add -g mint
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Visibility for="agents">
  If the user asked you to set up Mintlify rather than only install the CLI, continue through authentication, project creation, preview, validation, and deployment. Follow the [agent setup workflow in the Quickstart](/quickstart#set-up-mintlify-for-the-user). Do not stop after `mint --version` succeeds.

  Start by running `mint status`. Preserve an existing authenticated session. Otherwise, run `mint login` for an existing account or collect the user's real name, company, and email and run `mint signup` for a new account. The user must click the emailed verification link and approve browser-based authentication, but you should perform the remaining CLI steps. See [`mint signup`](/cli/commands#mint-signup) for flags and background-process guidance.
</Visibility>

<Tip>
  Using an AI coding tool? Copy the following prompt to have your agent install the CLI and verify it works.
</Tip>

{/* vale off */}

<Prompt description="Install the Mintlify CLI globally and verify the installation." actions={["copy", "cursor"]}>
Install the Mintlify CLI globally so I can preview my documentation locally.

1. Confirm Node.js v20.17.0 or newer is installed by running `node --version`. If it is missing or older, tell me before continuing.
2. Install the CLI with `npm i -g mint` (or `pnpm add -g mint` if I use pnpm).
3. Verify the install by running `mint --version` and share the output.
4. If the install fails with a permissions error, suggest re-running with `sudo` and explain the tradeoff.
</Prompt>

{/* vale on */}

## Create a new project

To create a new documentation project from the Mintlify starter template, run the following command:

```bash
mint new [directory]
```

{/* vale off */}

<Prompt description="Scaffold a new Mintlify project." actions={["copy", "cursor"]}>
Create a new Mintlify project in the current workspace.

1. Ask me for a project name and preferred theme (or template) if I haven't already told you.
2. Run `mint new <directory> --name <name> --theme <theme>` non-interactively, substituting the values I gave you. If I chose a template instead, run `mint new <directory> --template <template-name>`.
3. After the command finishes, list the generated files and point out `docs.json` as the main configuration entry point.
4. Run `mint dev` from the new directory and share the local preview URL.
</Prompt>

{/* vale on */}

If you do not specify a directory, the CLI prompts you to create a new subdirectory or overwrite the current directory.

<Warning>
  Overwriting the current directory deletes any existing files.
</Warning>

| Flag | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `--name` | Project name. The CLI prompts for this if not provided. |
| `--theme` | Project [theme](/customize/themes). The CLI prompts for this if not provided. |
| `--template` | Pre-defined template. The CLI prompts for this if not provided. |
| `--force` | Overwrite the current directory without prompting. |

In interactive mode, the CLI asks whether you want to pick a theme or clone a template. To skip the prompt, pass the `--template` flag directly:

```bash
mint new my-docs --template <template-name>
```

You can combine `--template` with `--theme` to override the template's default theme:

```bash
mint new my-docs --template <template-name> --theme <theme>
```

See available templates in the [mintlify/templates](https://github.com/mintlify/templates) repository on GitHub. In interactive mode, the CLI fetches and displays available templates automatically.

In non-interactive environments such as CI/CD pipelines or AI coding agents, you must provide either `--name` and `--theme` flags, or the `--template` flag.

## Update

If your local preview is out of sync with your deployed documentation, update the CLI to the latest version:

```bash
mint update
```

If `mint update` is not available on your version, reinstall the CLI with the latest version:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash npm
  npm i -g mint@latest
  ```

  ```bash pnpm
  pnpm add -g mint@latest
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Formatting

For syntax highlighting and code formatting in MDX files, use the following extensions:

- **Cursor, Devin Desktop, VS Code**: [MDX VS Code extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=unifiedjs.vscode-mdx) and [Prettier](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esbenp.prettier-vscode)
- **JetBrains**: [MDX IntelliJ IDEA plugin](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/14944-mdx) and [Prettier](https://prettier.io/docs/webstorm)

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title='Error: Could not load the "sharp" module using the darwin-arm64 runtime'>
    This may be due to an outdated version of Node.js. Try the following:

    1. Remove the currently installed version of the mint CLI: `npm uninstall -g mint`
    2. Upgrade to Node.js v20.17.0+.
    3. Reinstall the mint CLI: `npm install -g mint`
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Issue: Encountering an unknown error">
    **Solution**: Go to the root of your device and delete the `~/.mintlify` folder. Afterwards, run `mint dev` again.
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Error: permission denied">
    This is due to not having the required permissions to globally install node packages.

    **Solution**: Try running `sudo npm i -g mint`. When prompted, enter the password that you use to unlock your computer.
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="The local preview doesn't look the same as my docs do on the web">
    This is likely due to an outdated version of the CLI.

    **Solution**: Run `mint update` to get the latest changes.
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="mintlify versus mint package">
    If you have any problems with the CLI package, first run `npm ls -g` to see what packages are globally installed. If you don't use npm, try `which mint` to locate the installation.

    If you have both a `mint` and a `mintlify` package installed, uninstall `mintlify`:

    ```bash
    npm uninstall -g mintlify
    npm cache clean --force
    npm i -g mint
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Client version shows 'none' after installation">
    If you run `mint version` and the client version displays as `none`, the CLI may be unable to download the client application due to a corporate firewall or VPN.

    **Solution**: Ask your IT administrator to add `releases.mintlify.com` to your network allowlist.
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="CLI connects to localhost instead of production when using npx">
    In versions before `4.0.1125`, running `npx mint dev` or other commands from a docs
    repository could cause the CLI to incorrectly detect itself as a local development
    build. This made the CLI point to `localhost` URLs instead of the Mintlify production
    API, resulting in connection errors or unexpected behavior.

    **Solution**: Update to the latest CLI version:

    ```bash
    npm i -g mint@latest
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>